International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

Online ISSN: 2349-4182, Print ISSN: 2349-5979, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.72
www.allsubjectjournal.com
Volume 3; Issue 11; November 2016; Page No. 208-210

"Noor-ul- Haque Mashreqi's Zubdat-ut-Tawareekh": A source for the study of medieval India
Khursheed Ahmad
Assistant Professor (Ad-hoc), Dept. of Persian, Zakir husain, Delhi college (Eve.), Delhi, India

Abstract
Persian literature received a lot of attention as it was the official & court language during medieval era. A vast number of works
were written during the Mughal period. Our understanding of the Mughal period greatly enhanced by these books and most of the
historical works of this period provide us a fairly reliable source of information’s. After the foundation of Delhi Sultunate, The
court of Delhi attracted the scholars, poets and artist from the outside of India specially from central Asia and Iran. The literature
they produced mostly was in Persian, provides deep study about the religion and socio-cultural life of that era. Court patronized
these scholars and appointed in Administration, Shahi Madarsas and other offices of state. In this period Madarsas and Khanqahas
were became a prominent centre of Islamic culture. At the same time, the sufisilsilas or tariqat were also great asset to the general
people of India. They play key function to bring Islam and other religion close to each other. The Sufi Khanqahas serving the
people without any difference of caste, creed and religion. The Sufi Malfuzat (Sermons) is a valuable source to understand the
medieval society.

Keywords: medieval India, Delhi sultunate, madarsas and khanqahas

Introduction succeeded as a religious teacher at Delhi born in 983 A.H./

ZUBDAT-UT-TAWAREEKH is a general history of India from 1575 A.D. Author’s father Shaikh Abdul Haque founded his
Muizuddin Muhammad bin Sam (Shahabuddin Ghauri) down khanqah in Delhi around 1020 A.H./ 1611 A.D., which is
to the accession of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, in 1014 A.H./ called the Khanqah-e-Quadriya. The Shaikh lived during the
1605 A.D. compiled by Shaikh Noor-ul-Haque al Mashreqi al reign of Jahangir and continued to teach Hadith. Although
Dehlavi al Bukhari, the son of famous Islamist Shaikh Abdul Jahangir would often reward the Shaikh’s scholarship with
Haque Muhaddis Dehlavi. lavish gifts, according to Tuzk-e-Jahangiri he presented
The Zubdat-ut-Tawareekh is a much enlarged edition and estates in Bakkarwala also. Shaikh stood by his decision to
continuation of the Tarikh-e-Haqqi written by author’s father. keep aloof from politics but some people had made unfair
The work is dedicated to Murtaza Khan (Shaikh Farid b. Syed allegations to Jahangir regarding Shaikh Abdul Haque
Ahmad al Bukhari).The author says in his preface that his Muhaddis Dehlavi and his son, Noor- ul- Haque. They
father had been asked by Shaikh Farid to prepare an extended accused that the Noor- ul- Haque had friendly relation to the
edition of his history but due to his old age they had called rebellious Prince Khurram, who came to be known as
upon his son to comply with the Ameer’s request. In carrying Shahjahan. Jahangir exiled him along with his Father, Shaikh
out that task Noor-ul Haque added some information about the Abdul Haque to Kabul. While he camped in Kashmir, Jahangir
reigns that had been left out and expanded too, the concise ordered that the Shaikh present himself before the court but
portions of the original. Jahangir could not live longer & died four days later.
The Zubdat-ut-Tawareekh is not divided into chapters etc. After Shahjahan’s accession to the throne, both father and son
After a short preface history begins with Moizuddin were allowed to return to Delhi. Noor- ul- Haque was
Mohammad bin Sam and followed by other early Sultans. reinstated as the Qazi, chief cleric of Agra. He died at Delhi in
After that author provided the detailed information about the 1073 A.H. / 1662 A.D. at the age of ninety. Among his works
reign of Mughal emperor Babur, Humayun, Akbar and were a Persian commentary on the Sahih al-Bukhari entitled
Jahangir. This history covers not only Mughals but also the Taiseer ul qari fi sharah Sahih al-Bukhari, a Persian
reigns of Sher khan (Shah), the Kings of Malwa, Gujarat, commentary on the Sahih –e-Muslim entitled Manba-al-ilm fi
Deccan (Bahmanis, Asif Jahis) Rulers of Kashmir, Thattah, sharh-e-Sahih-e-Muslim revised and enlarged by his son
Sindh, Multan, Bengal, and Jaunpur. Fakhruddin Muhibbullah and a commentary on “Ameer
Another importance of the book is that, it supplies some Khusro’s” Qiran-us-sadain entitled Noorul ain fi Sharah
additional information about the reign of Akbar and may be Qiran-us-sadain.
considered as reliable source on the ground that it was written
on the personal information of the author. Importance of History
Zubdatut Tawareekh informs us about the Sultan Ghiyasuddin
The Author Balban that he was very religious and particular about saying
Shaikh Noor-ul-Haque al Mashreqi al Dehlavi al Bukhari, the his prayers like: Namaz, Roza, and aurad etc. He described
son of Shaikh Abdul Haque Muhaddis Dehlavi and whom he about his relation with some leading sufis, maulana

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International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

Burhanuddin, Shaikh Bahuddin Zakariya, Shaikh Fariduddin Unfortunately this work has not been published and few
etc.1 manuscripts has been preserved in the various libraries and
He also write about other sultan of this period , that he was museums of India and abroad, we are providing here a
very kind and gentle person, have much believe in donations comprehensive list of manuscripts of this valuable work.
and prayers: 1. Asafiyah Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh MS. No 160,
2. Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, A.P. Ms. No. 298
‫"بر درويشان و گوشه نشينان فتوح فرستادي و پنج وقت نماز به جماعت ادا‬ 3. Maulana Azad Arabic Persian Research Institute, Tonk
‫کردي تا نماز عشا نگزارد وي در حرم سرا نه رفتي و به قيام ليل مواظبت‬ Rajasthan, (Udai Pur Collection, M.S. No- 2617)
‫کردي و نوافل عبادات و خيرات قيام نمودي و از دائيره احکام شرعي و انقيام و‬ 4. Ameer-ud-daula Public Library, Lucknow, Ms. No 48374
2
"‫اطاعت آن قدم بيرون ننهادي‬ 5. Lahore Public Library, Ms.No. 510 Dated 1118 A.H.
6. British Museum, Ms. No Add. 10580
In the medieval times so many works have been written on the
life and contributions of nobles and intellectuals, like Maasirul Starting of Salarjung Museum's Manuscripts:
umara, Zakhiratul khawanin, Tarikhe Shakir Khani, Tarikhe
Iradat Khan etc. This work also covers the life and ‫" خطبه کبريا جالل بنام شاهنشاهي سزد که عالم و هر چه در عالم است آفريده‬
contribution of a Mughal Nobel who serves the court of Akbar ‫اوست و آدم و آدميان نواخته و بر گزيد او جهان آفريني که بر آورد آسمان و‬
and Jahangir, he was Shaikh Farid Bukhari. Shaikh got a ‫زمين را و هر چه در آسمان و زمين است از ثوابت و سيارات و عناصر و‬
prominent possession in the court of Akbar after the death of ‫مواليد و بسايط و مرکبّات به انتظام بديع و محکم صفتي متين و متقين بر وجهي‬
Abul Fazal the great noble of Akbar and a great historian of " ‫که اگر تمامه عقالي عالم از ازل يکدل و يکرو شده خواهند‬
Mughals, he wrote a wonderful book Akbar Nama and Aaine
Akbari. End of the Manuscript
In this work author focuses on the life of Shaikh Farid, his ‫"بيان ايشان به تفصيل در ذکر سلطان بهلول نوشته شده است و م ّدت سلطنتش‬
contributions in wars, his welfare works and other many ‫ شش نفر م ّدت نود‬.‫نوزده سال بود بعد از وي سلطنت سالطين شرقيه سپري شد‬
important information. .‫و هشت سال بادشاهي کردند در گزشتند و ذکر ايشان يادگار نامد‬
This history also a source of socio cultural life of that period,
he also provide information regarding festivals, Marriage Conclusions
ceremony and other celebrations. At the end we can say that Zubdat-ut-Tawareekh is a valuable
source of medieval Indian History. The author’s style of
)‫(الف‬ narrating is fair and accurate. The book is written in a simple
‫"درين سال شهريار بلند اقبال به در آمد نوروز دلفروز ابواب عيش و حضور‬ and straightforward style which indicate towards full of spirit
‫جمهور خاليق کوشيده حکم فرمودند که در ديوار ايوانها دولت خانه به دستور‬ to write vivid history. Shaikh Noor-ul-Haque was employed
‫سابق باز به زيب و زينت آراستند و صفهاي به آئين مذکور ترتيب مي يافت و‬ on some high offices during the reign of Jahangir and
"3‫جشنهاي خورمي ساخته مي شد‬ Shahjahan. It was because of his clear sightedness to events.

)‫(ب‬ References
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‫گرفته و به لعل و جواهر آراسته تماشاگاه عالم و عالميان ساختند و اين بزم نشاط‬ Syed Sabahuddin, Muwarkheen ki nazar main, Darul,
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International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

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